You're Bargaining team is
Amanda Johnson
Isaac Menashe
Chad Swarthout
Kevin Luce
Lorraine Guthrie
Ginny Allen
and
Jessica Minguez Nea-Alaska UniServ Director
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How the process works.
Mediation: Both sides sit down with a federal mediator and try to work out our differences to come to a final product. Give and take is part of every contract and the mediator is there to smooth the process and give us an outside perspective to find a resolution. We get 2 of these before we can go to Arbitration.
Arbitration: We have non-binding Arbitration. Much like mediation arbitration is where we sit down with a third party. But instead of the give and take, it is more like a legal presentation. We present our side of the contract with justification, the District does the same and then the Arbitrator goes to their neutral corner and comes up with their assessment of both contracts and their solution. Basically an outline of what they think the contract should be. We can either take it or not. We can start bargaining again using it. We have a lot of options. So does the District
Imposition: This is where it can get ugly. At this point if one or both sides reject the Arbitrators decisions than the District can impose their last best contract offer. Which at this point is their first and you can download that below. That is where we have a Strike Vote
Strike Vote: Strike vote will happen in each building by paper ballot. Tabulated in our office. The board will be there along with Building Representatives. This does NOT start a work action but gives CEA the option to strike if need be. EVERYONE gets to vote. Member and Non-Member. If the bargaining unit chooses to strike we will notify the District and hopefully get back to the table and hammer out a deal.
Strike: We do not want a strike. This whole process is about avoiding a work action. But with the authorization given to us by a positive strike vote, and with no further concessions by the District, CEA board of Directors will schedule a work stoppage date. We do not get paid during the work stoppage (Including your officers and President). Part of the Return to work agreement will be back pay. NEA-Alaska has provisions for this, (No interest short term loans) to help us makes ends meet. We will NEVER stop negotiating! Kenai Peninsula came to a contract solution hours before the strike started (Enough so one school didn't get the message and started. lol)
NEA-Alaska has been with us from the beginning on this. Especially with all the covid money floating around; it has been very important to have experts following that money and how it has been spent. NEA-Alaska will also have "boots on the ground" During the process of the vote and NEA National jumps into the battle with us if we strike with personnel, expertise and money for supplies, and voices at our multiple locations.
I, as your President and past bargaining team member saw this coming and created a "Strike Fund" for our own supplies, creating options for our members to get fed on the picket lines and also to start cooking meals for those who need it.
We are constantly thinking inside and outside the box on this; hoping it never happens. But WE are not alone. Our teachers will support us! NEA-Alaska is backing us and is here with us for the duration and NEA National is watching and supporting us as well. Remember the goal! Wages that we can support our families on, great health insurance that keeps us out of bankruptcy, and a contract that will protect our rights into the future.
FULL BARGAINING UPDATES:
12/7/2022
After further discussion with the District negotiators, including their decision that there is no way forward with us maintaining our health insurance and a cap on wage increases that still keeps all of us WAY under the current inflation rates; our team has decided that Arbitration will be our next step.
The association is always open and available for discussion and new proposals that may lead to advancement in the goal of reaching a ratifiable agreement.
10/26/2022 Mediation was good but no tentative agreements. (T/A) Discussions about wages and Health insurance were interesting but at the end of the day unfruitful.
District still has a hard time understanding that with inflation at an all time high and the rise in wages throughout the valley that a .50 raise is not going to keep our members employed, or even put gas in our cars. And when your job gives you a $20,000 bonus it's easy to understand why they don't understand us or our needs. Fortunately the contract negotiators before us emplaced language in our contract that protects us from the district predation on our health insurance and collective bargaining is going to get us meaningful wage increases.
We have requested documents from the district and are waiting those before scheduling our next mediation. Stay tuned to the Newsletters for more information as the process moves on.
3/18/2022 Happy Friday!!
Your bargaining team spent yesterday afternoon listening to the District's health insurance proposal. The HSA payment from the district is $1500, Here we go!
Individual Deductible = $1500, Individual Out of Pocket =$7000
Family Deductible = $3000, Out of pocket = $14000
Dental = $75 Indv. and $225 Fam Deductible 100% Preventative, 80% Basic, 50% Major $3000 PCY Max
Vision = $25 Vision Exam Co-Pay, $300 Vision Hardware each year covered in full No other discounts.
Rx wasn't formally in the presentation paperwork but it is $0 coverage till the deductible is paid, then a 20/80 split. That means we pay the full cost of all our prescriptions till we meet the deductible of $1500/$7000
Savings (this years numbers)
EMPLOYEE ANNUAL PREMIUM SAVINGS
Plan A/B | Plan C/B | Plan F/B
$4,737 $2,760 $732
Plus all protections in the contract giving us a say in future insurance changes are revoked. Meaning once we leave, we have to bargain for the right to change three years down the road.
Any questions? Ask away!!
Not a member and want a voice in this contract? Join!
3/1/2022 We swapped proposals today. Side by side is below along with Initial proposals. Typical first proposals, lot's of work ahead of us. Full Contract proposals are at the bottom.
Health Insurance Proposal below.
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